Sheppard agrees Reading move

Irish under 21 international forward Karl Sheppard has agreed a move to Reading.

The 20-year-old has agreed terms on a contract keeping him at Madejski Stadium until the summer of 2014.

He will take squad number 21 and trained with the Royals for the first time this morning.

The deal will now be signed, approved and ratified by the football authorities, while international clearance should then be received in due course.

Sheppard is available on a free transfer after his contract with Shamrock Rovers came to an end, and the Royals have fought off interest from other Championship clubs to capture him.

Sheppard told the Reading FC site: "The history of bringing good Irish players through is something that intrigued me into coming here. There was interest from a few other Championship clubs as well but once I heard that Reading were in, there was only one club for me.